Oil, gas firms' third-quarter earnings improved from a year ago

A sample of 57 US-based oil and gas producers and refiners posted a combined net income of $676.3 million for this year’s third quarter compared with a combined net loss of $31.5 billion for the same period in 2015. Source: News

An uneasy easement

Protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline divert attention from serious questions about the rule of law and politicization of federal agencies. Images of Native Americans and environmentalists camping in snow play better than constitutional problems do on television. Source: News

There's a lot of oil

At a conference in the Middle East during 2003, if memory serves, this editor heard a familiar voice. Source: News

Two OCS planning areas withdrawn off Alaska

US President Barack Obama has withdrawn 40,300 sq miles of the Outer Continental Shelf off western Alaska from oil and gas leasing. Source: News

Trump reportedly to name McMorris Rodgers as Interior Secretary

US President-elect Donald J. Trump reportedly plans to nominate Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), who is vice-chair of his transition team, as Secretary of the Interior. She first was elected to serve her eastern Washington district in 2004, sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and chairs the House Republican Conference. Source: News

Santos to offload noncore assets to cut costs

Santos Ltd., Adelaide, has flagged its controversial coal seam gas (CSG) project in New South Wales and its Asian business for potential sale as part of its planned disposal of noncore assets into a separate business to cut costs and ease debt. Source: News